Trunk construction



Aug. 21, 192s.

J. RITTER, JR

TRUNK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1924 A TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 21, 1928. i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS RITTER, JR., 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HARTMANN TRUNK COM- PANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

TRUNK CONSTRUCTION.

Application led March 29, 1924. Serial No. 702,833.

This invention relates to improvements in trunk construction more particularly of the Wardrobe type.

Vardrobe trunks of the usual type are formed of two hinged together sections which stand on end and swing horizontally to open or closed position. The two sections usually, a wardrobe section and a drawer sect-ion, abut each other and one of the sections is provided with a valance strip which overlapsthe adjacent abutting edge of the other section. As thus constructed the overlapped section edge is not protected against pressure inwardly with the result that in use the sections are often broken, and if out in a storni the moisture gets into the trunk at the joint. T he drawer section is generally provided with sliding drawers and the front upper edges of Vthese drawers are usually very weak and break easily.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome thebefore mentioned objectionable feature and provide a trunk construction in which the parts are so formed and f reinforced as to prevent the parts going und-er strain, and to prevent the moisture from passing into the trunk through the joints thereoi.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk construction in which a metal groove or recess is provided in 'the lower edge portion of the drawer section in to which the lower edge of the wardrobe section swings to form a close connection therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk which is of very simple. construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described.

Vith the above and other objects in viewY the invention consists of the improved trunk construction and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of t-he views;

Fig. 1 is a front view of a wardrobe trunk embodying the improved construction, the trunk sections being shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a. sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view of the front upper portion of one of the trunk drawers provided with the reinforcement.

Referring to the drawing the numeral S indicates the wardrobe section and 9 the drawer section of a. wardrobe trunk embodying t-lie improvements. The two sections are hinged together to swing horizontally to portions 8 and 9 abut-ting when in closed position and the drawer section 9 is provided with a valance strip 13 which overlaps the adjacent edge of the wardrobe section. Said last mentioned edge is reinforced with U-shape in cross section valance. strip 14. A reinforcing strip 15 is mounted on the inner surface of the lower portion of the drawer section and projects outwardly therefrom to overlap the edge of the wardrobe section as clearly shown in Fig. L1. As t-lius positioned a groove 1G is formed along the lower edge of the drawer section into which the edge portion 8 of the wardrobe section extends to form a tight closure. Said reinforcing strip 15 is secured to the drawer section by rivets or tacks 17 and at points adjacent the opposite sides of the said section portions 15 are turned downwardl to enga-(re the edo'e 94 of the drawer b b D section to accommodate. reinforcing angle members 18 mounted on the inner opposite sides of the wardrobe section 8. Said strips reinforce the sides of the trunk and also serve to hold the drawers of t-lie other section in place.

The inner upper front portion 12 of each drawer 12 is reinforced by a strip of metal 19 which extends across the entire front portion of the drawer and is secured thereto by rivets 20. Said strip is folded or corrugated to form a double rib 19/ and flanges 21 through which the rivets 2O extend to attach the strip to the drawer as' shown. The reinforcing strips 19 prevent the front portions of the drawers from warping and also coact with the angie members 18 in preventingl the weight orpressure of the contents ot' the drawers from forcing` the medial portions of the front parts of the drawers outwardly.

The reinforcing strip 15 is provided with a central slot 22 to receive the lower end of the drawer lock bar Q3 which is positioned in front of the drawers and its upper end is locked to the upper part of the drawer section, thus forming a iirm support for thelower end of said bar.

From the foregoing' description it will be seen that the trunk construction is well rein- `forced in a very simple manner. Furthermore the grooved joint at the lower portion keeps moisture from entering the lower portion of the trunk.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A trunk construction, comprisingr a wardrobe section and a drawer section having bottom portions and adjacent non-yieldingr edge portions, a non-yielding;r valance member mounted on the edge portion of one of the sections and overlapped by the adjacent edge portion of the other section, and a reinforcing stri p mounted in the bottom portion of the trunk section provided with the valance member and .spaced above the valance member to form in combination with the valance member and the front edge of the drawer section a groove, the opposite end portions of the reinforcing stri p having parts extendingr downwardly in lront of the lower edge of the said section and engaged by the edge of the other section.

2. A trunk construction, comprising a wardrobe section and a drawer section having drawers therein, a non-yielding valance member mounted on the outer edge portion of the drawer section and overlapped by the adjacent non-yieldingr outer edge ot the wardrobe section, and a non-yielding reinforcing strip mounted in the lower inner side portion olf the drawer section and spaced trom the valance member to form in combination with the valance member and the liront ed ge ol the drawer section a groove into which the lower edge portion oi the wardrobe section extends, .said reinforcinbr strip also havingj opposite end and downwardly extending; portions against which the edge of the other section abuts.

3. A trunk construction, comprising a wardrobe section and a drawer section having drawers therein, a non-yieldingr valance member mounted on the edge portion of the drawer section and overlapped by the adjacent non-yieldingnr edge ot' the wardrobe seetion, a non-yielding reinftncingr .strip mounted on the lower inner side portion of the drawer section and spaced from the valance member to form in combination with the valance member and the front edge of the drawer section a groove into which the lower edge portion of the wardrobe section extends. eaid reinforcing strip having opposite end and downwardly extending portions against which the edge of the other -section abuis, said reinforcing strip having an opening medially of its length to accommodate the lower end of a locking bar.

ln testimony whereof, l alix my signature.

J ULIUS RITTER, Jn. 

